Large corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and startups gathered to reach a consensus that they should expand win-win cooperation funds and performance sharing, and build a cooperative ecosystem that encompasses second- and third-tier suppliers. Participants agreed that technology verification, financial support, and regulatory improvement must work together organically to create a virtuous cycle of win-win cooperation.
Joo Jong-heung, vice president of Hylium Industries, emphasized the importance of win-win cooperation funds at a panel discussion held on the 9th at the guest house of the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, during the "2026 Korea Win-Win Cooperation Conference." "Even when SMEs have technological capabilities, it takes considerable time to build a track record and secure orders," he said. "Through large corporations' win-win support, we can secure references and broaden business opportunities." He added, "Through win-win cooperation funds, large corporations can support the growth of SMEs, and grown SMEs can in turn contribute to expanding large corporations' revenue, creating a virtuous cycle."
Hylium Industries is a company that develops liquid hydrogen storage and transport systems, and it conducted verification of a liquid hydrogen transport system through POSCO's win-win cooperation fund support. In the process, POSCO developed high-strength stainless steel for liquid hydrogen storage, and the two companies jointly verified the product to obtain new technology certification.
Kim Jong-kyu, CEO of Sixty Hertz, which develops virtual power plant software for the renewable energy transition, introduced cooperation cases with SK Innovation, Hyundai Motor, and KB Stars. Sixty Hertz provides solutions that support companies' renewable energy transition and RE100 implementation, cooperating with large corporations on carbon neutrality and energy transition.
"Proof-of-concept (PoC) projects based on win-win cooperation funds played a major role in creating business opportunities," Kim said. "In the early stages when the domestic market was not sufficiently formed, we were able to pioneer new markets together with large corporations."
The financial sector said it would expand financial support to underpin win-win cooperation. Kim Kyung-nam, head of the ESG division at KB Financial Group, said, "Moving beyond win-win programs centered on large corporations, we will create a virtuous cycle in the industrial ecosystem that encompasses even the SMEs and small business owners in the blind spots." He added, "Beyond simple funding, we will serve as a financial partner for sustainable growth."
There were also suggestions that participation from various stakeholders, including second- and third-tier suppliers, must be increased to build a win-win ecosystem. Byun Tae-seop, secretary general of the Korea Commission for Corporate Partnership, pointed out, "It is difficult to sustain win-win cooperation through a method in which large corporations unilaterally support SMEs. It is time to create a healthy win-win ecosystem in which various stakeholders participate together, including not only large corporations and SMEs but also the financial sector and public institutions."
Jung Hee-seop, head of Hyundai Motor's win-win cooperation office, said, "Drawing participation from first-tier suppliers is not easy, but getting second- and third-tier suppliers and material suppliers involved in win-win cooperation is an even greater challenge. We are in a situation where tasks pursued by large corporations, such as safety, security, and carbon neutrality, must be spread across all suppliers." To address this from a long-term perspective, Hyundai Motor has established a five-year plan to support second- and third-tier suppliers and has secured the related budget.
The government plans to expand institutional support to induce companies' voluntary win-win cooperation. Lee Eun-cheong, director-general of the win-win cooperation policy bureau at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said, "The current shared-growth paradigm is shifting toward a direction in which not only suppliers but also startups, small business owners, and local communities grow together. We will actively support win-win cooperation between large corporations and SMEs through the Win-Win Cooperation Act, the supply price linkage system, the technology protection system, and the livelihood-suitable business type system."
